CN104049788A - touch input device - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch input device is suitable for controlling an electronic device and comprises a body, a display layer, a touch layer, a processing unit and a pressing element. The body is provided with an accommodating part. The display layer is arranged on the body and is used for displaying at least one virtual key. The touch layer is arranged on the display layer and used for sensing whether the virtual key is touched by a user or not and generating a sensing signal according to the sensing signal. The processing unit is disposed in the accommodating portion and electrically connected to the touch layer and the display layer. The pressing element is arranged below the touch layer and electrically connected with the processing unit, and when any virtual key is touched by a user and is applied with a pressing force larger than a preset force, the pressing element is pressed together. The processing unit controls the operation of the electronic device through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element.

Description

touch input device

technical field

The present invention relates to an input device, in particular to a touch input device.

Background technique

In recent years, with the vigorous development of electronic technology, input devices (such as: mouse) replace our fingers to do a lot of clicking work necessary to operate electronic devices, and gradually evolve from mechanical to optical and even to the present touch way to control electronic devices (eg: computers).

A traditional touch input device generates a touch signal when a user touches the outer surface of the housing of the input device, and uses the touch signal to control the electronic device. However, the button position of the traditional touch input device is limited by the shape and size of the input device, and the button position has been fixed when the manufacturer produces the input device, so the user cannot freely change the button position according to personal preference. In addition, the number of keys of the traditional touch input device is also limited due to the size of the input device, thus causing inconvenience to the user. Furthermore, when the user wants to change the button function of any input device, the user usually has to modify the button function using the software provided by the manufacturer, which also causes a lot of inconvenience to the user.

Contents of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch input device with a high degree of freedom for the current video game market and word processing market, and can set virtual keys with different functions according to user preferences. The monotonous input method of the traditional touch input device and the inconvenience of the touch input device can be improved, the touch input device can be used more flexibly in use, and the needs of different users can also be met.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch input device suitable for controlling an electronic device, including: a body, a display layer, a touch layer, a processing unit, and a pressing element. The body has an accommodating portion. The display layer is arranged on the body and is used for displaying at least one virtual key. The touch layer is arranged on the display layer, and is used for sensing whether the virtual key is touched by the user, and generates a sensing signal accordingly. The processing unit is disposed in the accommodating portion and is electrically connected to the touch layer and the display layer. The pressing element is disposed under the touch layer and is electrically connected to the processing unit. When any virtual key is touched by the user and is given a pressing force greater than a preset force, the pressing element is pressed together to generate a pressing force. Signal. The processing unit controls the operation of the electronic device through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element.

To sum up the above, the embodiments of the present invention provide a touch input device. Through the arrangement of virtual key components and pressing elements, when any virtual key is touched by the user and is given a pressing force greater than a preset force, The pressing element is pressed together to generate a pressing signal, so that the processing unit controls the operation of the electronic device through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element. Therefore, it solves the problem that the traditional touch input device lacks a mechanical key state sensed by fingers and improves the monotonous input method of the traditional touch input device and the inconvenience of the touch input device.

In order to further understand the technology, method and effect that the present invention adopts to achieve the intended purpose, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention, and believe that the purpose, characteristics and characteristics of the present invention can be deepened and concretely obtained from this However, the accompanying drawings and appendices are provided for reference and illustration only, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the touch input device according to FIG. 1A .

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

【Symbol Description】

Touch input device 10, 20, 30

Touch layer 110, 110'

Virtual touch button areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120

Display layer 130, 130'

Body 160

circuit board 170

processing unit 171

Optical sensing element 173

Pressing elements 175, 175'

Bottom case 190

Light guide element 191

Port 192

Detailed ways

[Example of Touch Input Device]

First, please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B . FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the touch input device according to FIG. 1A . As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , the touch input device 10 is suitable for controlling an electronic device, including a body 160 , a touch layer 110 , a display layer 130 , a circuit board 170 , a processing unit 171 , an optical sensing element 173 and a pressing element 175 . There is an accommodating portion 180 inside the main body 160 for the processing unit 171 to be placed therein. In this embodiment, both the processing unit 171 and the pressing element 175 are disposed on the circuit board 170 , but the present invention does not limit the arrangement of the processing unit 171 and the pressing element 175 . As long as the processing unit 171 is disposed in the accommodating portion 180 , and the pressing element 175 is disposed under the touch layer 110 .

In this embodiment, the display layer 130 has a curved shape and is disposed on the body 160 and electrically connected to the processing unit 171 . The upper surface of the display layer 130 will display a plurality of virtual key areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, and each virtual key area 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 can display numeric keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. For example, the virtual key area 111 can display the number key 1, the virtual key area 112 can display the number key 2, and so on. In addition, the number keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are also function keys, for example: number key 1 may represent the Ctrl+Alt key of the keyboard. Furthermore, number keys and function keys can exist in virtual key areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 at the same time, for example: number keys are 1, 2, 3, and function keys are 4, 5, 6, 7. Therefore, this embodiment does not limit whether the virtual key areas 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , and 117 display all numeric keys or function keys or display numeric keys and function keys together.

The touch layer 110 is disposed on the display layer and electrically connected to the processing unit 171. In this embodiment, the shape of the touch layer 110 is substantially a curved conductor film structure, but in practice, the touch layer The shape of 110 can be designed according to actual product application requirements. For example, if the shape of the touch input device 10 is a rectangle, the touch layer 110 will be designed according to the appearance of the touch input device 10 . In addition, this embodiment does not limit whether the touch layer 110 is a capacitive touch layer or a resistive touch layer. Those of ordinary skill in the art can design according to actual usage conditions.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1B at the same time. FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , the circuit board 170 is provided with a processing unit 171 , an optical sensing element 173 and a pressing element 175 . The pressing element 175 is electrically connected to the processing unit 171 and correspondingly disposed under the plurality of virtual key regions 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 . The bottom case 190 of this embodiment is provided with a light guide element 192 and a through opening 191 , and the light guide element 192 is located above the through opening 191 . The circuit board 170 is provided with an optical sensing element 173 corresponding to the light guide element 192. The optical sensing element 173 and the light guide element 192 form a movement sensing module for sensing the reflected light source signal of the touch input device 10 on the plane. .

When the user is operating, the user can move the touch input device 10 arbitrarily. At this time, the optical sensing element 173 will generate a light source to the desktop through the light guide element 192 and the opening 191, and the light reflected from the desktop passes through the light guide. The element 192 is transmitted to the optical sensing element 173, and after signal analysis and processing, the moving direction and distance of the touch input device 10 can be accurately calculated, so as to synchronously control the position of the cursor on the user interface of the electronic device. When the user touches any virtual button area 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 but does not apply more than a preset pressure to any virtual button area 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 When the pressing force is low, the pressing element 175 may not work. On the other hand, when the user touches any of the virtual key areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and applies more than When a preset force is pressed, the pressing element 175 will be pressed together to generate a pressing signal, and the pressing element can generate a sound effect at the same time, allowing the user to determine any virtual key area 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 are indeed touched and pressed, so that the processing unit 171 controls the user interface of the electronic device to execute instructions or browse through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer 110 and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element 175. action.

Moreover, when the processing unit 171 of this embodiment touches any of the virtual button areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and applies a pressing force greater than a preset pressure, the pressing elements are simultaneously is pressed to generate a press signal. Therefore, the processing unit 171 controls the operation of the electronic device through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer 110 and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element 175 . However, the present invention does not limit the processing unit 171 to control the operation of the electronic device only after receiving the sensing signal and the pressing signal. For example, the processing unit 171 can control the operation of the electronic device through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer 110 , and can also control the operation of the electronic device through the pressing signal generated by the pressing element 175 . Those of ordinary skill in the art can design according to actual usage conditions.

In addition, the present invention does not limit the touch input device 10 to control electronic devices through wired transmission or wireless transmission. Those of ordinary skill in the art can design according to actual usage conditions.

[Another embodiment of the touch input device]

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 at the same time. FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the pressing element 175 in the circuit board 170 of FIG. 2, the circuit board 170 of FIG. , 114, 115, 116, 117. Therefore, when the user touches any of the virtual key areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and applies a pressing force greater than the preset force, the corresponding pressing element 175' is also pressed and generates One sound effect. For example, when the user touches the virtual key area 111 and presses it, the corresponding pressing element 175' under the virtual key area 111 will also be pressed, and a sound effect will be generated to allow the user to confirm the virtual key area 111 Whether it is definitely touched and pressed by the user. In this way, the processing unit 171 controls the user interface of the electronic device to execute instructions or browse through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer 110 and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element 175 .

[Another embodiment of the touch input device]

Please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 simultaneously. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the touch input device 10 in FIG. 1 and the touch input device 20 in FIG. Both the layer 110 ′ and the display layer 130 ′ extend to the sidewall of the body of the touch input device 30 (the sidewall is located on the side of the body). Therefore, in addition to the top surface of the touch input device 30 being provided with a plurality of virtual key areas 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, a plurality of virtual key areas 118 can also be provided on the side wall of the touch input device 30. , 119, 120. In this embodiment, a plurality of virtual key regions 118 , 119 , 120 are disposed on the sidewall of the touch input device 30 . However, the present invention does not limit the number of virtual button areas provided on the side walls, which can be designed according to actual product application requirements. Therefore, the user can not only set different functions for the plurality of virtual keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the top surface of the touch input device 30 according to personal preference, but also set different functions for the touch input device 30. The virtual buttons 7 , 8 , 9 on the side wall of the device 30 are set to execute commands or browse the user interface of the electronic device.

[Possible effects of the embodiment]

To sum up, the touch input device provided by the embodiments of the present invention has virtual buttons that can be configured with different functions according to the user's preferences. When the user touches and presses any virtual key, the pressing element will be pressed together and produce a sound effect, so that the user can know whether the touched virtual key has been successfully touched and pressed, so that the user can When using the touch input device, the user still maintains the recognition and convenience of the traditional input device.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides a touch input device, in which a plurality of virtual keys can be arranged not only on the top surface of the body of the touch input device but also on the side wall. Therefore, a high-degree-of-freedom touch input device is provided for players of electronic games and users who often use word processing. Therefore, the touch digital input device can be used more flexibly in use, and the needs of different users can also be met.

Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention provide a touch input device, the display layer of which can display a plurality of keys and key functions, so it is not necessary to memorize all the key functions, so that the user can use the touch input device Can be more convenient.

Claims (10)

1. A touch input device, suitable for controlling an electronic device, characterized in that the touch input device comprises: a body, the body has an accommodating portion; a display layer, arranged on the body, for displaying at least one virtual button; A touch layer, disposed on the display layer, is used to sense whether the virtual key is touched by a user, and generate a sensing signal accordingly; a processing unit, disposed in the accommodating portion and electrically connected to the touch layer and the display layer; and a pressing element, disposed under the touch layer and electrically connected to the processing unit, wherein when any one of the virtual keys is touched by the user and is given a pressing force greater than a predetermined force, the The pressing elements are pressed together to generate a pressing signal; Wherein, the processing unit controls the operation of the electronic device through the sensing signal generated by the touch layer and the pressing signal generated by the pressing element. 2. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch input device further comprises a bottom case, the bottom case comprises a movement sensing module, and the movement sensing module is used for sensing Measure the reflected light source signal of the touch input device on the plane. 3 . The touch input device according to claim 1 , wherein both the touch layer and the display layer extend to a side wall of the body. 4 . 4 . The touch input device according to claim 1 , wherein the display layer and the touch layer are curved surfaces. 5. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual key is a function key or a number key. 6. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the display layer displays a plurality of the virtual keys, and when the user touches any one of the virtual keys, the pressing elements will be being pressed. 7. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the display layer displays a plurality of the virtual keys, wherein each of the pressing elements corresponds to one of the virtual keys, when the user touches When any one of the virtual keys is pressed, the corresponding pressing element is pressed together. 8 . The touch input device according to claim 1 , wherein the touch input device controls the electronic device through wired transmission or wireless transmission. 9. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch input device is a mouse. 10. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein when the pressing element is pressed, the pressing element generates a sound effect.